Reuben Howell - You Can't Stop A Man In Love / When You Take Another Chance On Love

Reuben Howell is best known for "You Can't Stop A Man In Love", which is back in demand again and the prices are as high or higher as they have ever been.

I remember buying the LP for this track back in the early 80's when it was getting big spins around the Doncaster area, and this was always the standout track.

There have been various other versions of this, (Carl Carlton and Mirage), but Reuben wins the contest every time.

"When You Take" can often be found on the other side of "Can't Stop", but always check as "When You Take" is also available as a stereo/mono demo copy as well.

"When You Take Another Chance On Love", has always been overlooked, but I think it is a good track in it's own right.

Nice mid tempo Crossover from Motown.

​Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye - My Mistake (Was To Love You)

Now this sounds perfect, just right for today's taste's in style and tempo.

Motown try the Marvin Gaye Duets formula once again, but it is Miss Ross who is given first billing, that's what you get from being the "Favourite" of Mr Gordy.

A nice cheapie for your box that will only ever grow in popularity.

The Miracles - Whatever Makes You Happy

This dreamy number is found on the flip side to the 1963 biggie "Mickeys Monkey".

Sounding a million miles away from the hit side, this is a great crossover track, that would go down well at an lesser/underplayed soul night.

Superb.

The Contours - Just A Little Misunderstanding / Determination

This must have been played at every venue which has ever held any kind of Soul Night.

This 1966 recording is the epitome of a Northern Soul / Tamla Motown floor filler.

Every collection should hold a copy of this as it is timeless and never gets tiresome.

Hidden away on the flip of the magnificent "Just A Little Misunderstanding" is this little tune, "Determination", which has long been overlooked.

These kind of underplayed Motown tracks keep popping their head up and when they do, they always seem to sound better than before.

Barbara Randolph - I Got A Feeling

Barbara Ann Saunders had a acting career which started whilst she was still young, staring in Bright Road with Harry Belafonte.

Barbara first recordings were for RCA records, she would then replace Zola Taylor in the Platters.

She signed for Motown in 1967, where she had just two releases, the above and a version of Can I Get A Witness.

She would later to go on to marry former Shrine supremo Eddie Singleton.

I Got A Feeling is a classic track to play down your local Motown / Handbag night, the girls just can't get enough of it.

Johnny Williams - Just A Little Misunderstanding

I know I'm cheating here a little, but it is a great version of the Contours classic.

There seems to be a few of these Motown "Cover" versions that are finding favour in the northern oldie rooms, Gayle Adams version of "Baby I Need Your Loving" was a huge spin a few years ago.

This song has been covered a few times and most of them are great, "The Del-Cords" being the exception.

If you like the original then you should also like this.

Laura Lee - To Win Your Heart

This Ric-Tic classic finally got a UK release due to demand from the Northern scene, and a good job too, as the original releases are not too easy to track down.

A vocal take to "Festival Time", and Laura does an excellent job of giving us an alternative to spin, although I must admit to having a preference for the instrumental, but maybe that is because I heard that first.

A cheap one on UK stock, and a great addition to anyone's oldies box.

​Edwin Starr - Agent Double O Soul / Instrumental

This 1965 release is an obvious play on the James Bond theme.

A Ric Tic recording and release, this did get a release in the UK on Tamla Motown due to the demand of plays on the Northern Soul scene.

The first press demo of this had the title as agent O O Soul, but the DJ's on the radio were pronouncing it wrong, hence the stock copies having the title changed to match the lyrics.

An old time classic that my old mate Dek Carver seemed to request everywhere we went.

The Temptations - Do You Really Love Your Baby

This 1985 release by "The Temptations" was taken from the "Touch Me" album, but neither the LP or the 45 bothered the charts much, just scraping into the top 100.

So what do we have here? a great "Modern Soul" dancer which maybe a tad too "80's" for some, but give it a while and it will grow on you.

I love it and have done since I first it getting spins as a new release at Thorne's Canal Tavern soul nights, courtesy of the late Gary Welsh.

Four Tops - Don't Bring Back Memories

First done by Tommy Knight on an unreleased "Shrine" acetate, this is a class tune.

Is this the only example of a "Raymona Singleton" written track getting released on Motown? and I wonder how it slipped passed Berry's eagle eye?

Whatever the story is, one thing is certain, this is a lovely track that I never tire of hearing.

Marv Johnson - I Miss You Baby

Marvin Earl Johnson had eight Top 40 hits, this track made number 25 here in the UK.

A thumping Motown track which is another guaranteed floor packer at any good oldies night.

My old mate Col from Goole put me onto this years ago, and I am mighty glad he did.

Try listening to this and keeping your feet still.

Little Lisa - Hang On Bill

Little Lisa (Leza) Miller was a mere eight year old when she recorded this track.

Motown had made a star of Little Stevie Wonder, so decided to return to a winning formula but this time with a young girl, who happened to be the neice of Helen & Kay Lewis. They failed this time but would be successful when they tried again with Michael Jackson.

This a take on Hang On Pearl by Bob Kayli.

Kiddie soul recordings are not the most popular tunes to listen to, but once you get past the weak vocal on this, then you will hear a stonkingly good dancer.

I have never heard the instrumental to this, but the Funk's are on top form here, it must have been a great atmosphere in the snake pit the day this was laid down.

Lisa also recorded Loneliest Christmas Tree on Canterbury Records.

P. J. - T.L.C.

P.J. was in fact actress Patti Jerome who was married to Harry Balk.

Harry is a well known name in collecting circles as the owner of the Inferno, Impact and Twirl record labels.

Harry also worked as a producer at Motown, so that is how Patti ended up as an artist.

This 1972 US release was played here in the UK straight away as it fitted into what was popular on the soul scene, and if it had been released here it would have probably charted.

It was popular for a short period until the sheer amount of copies turning up killed it straight in it's tracks.

I haven't heard this played out for years, which is a shame as the returnees would probably go for it.

I'm gonna put this in my DJ box and give it a try next time out.

Cuba Gooding - Mind Pleaser

Cuba Gooding Sr is the former lead singer with "The Main Ingredient" and in 1978 he had his first solo album released on "Motown".

"Mind Pleaser" hardly troubled the charts, only making number 91 R&B.

The Modern Soul collector has never let chart position get in the way of a great dance track, and boy is this good.​

Played as a new release, this has probably been held back by it's lack of rarity.

A feel good Modern Soul track.

​Edwin Starr - Twenty Five Miles / Instrumental

Charles Edwin Hatcher was born in Nashville and not Detroit as many people seem to think.

Edwin's 1969 vocal of this track is a stone cold classic that has been loved since it's day of release, but not everyone knows about this instrumental take which sneaked out in 1989 on the flip of a terrible re-working of the vocal.

It is nice to be able to play out these instrumentals legitimately, without having to resort to having a "Carver" cut yourself.

Just remember not to play the 1989 reworked vocal, it's crap, and it will make your ears bleed.​

Brenda Holloway - Lonely Boy

Here is Brenda on a great unreleased track which was left in the Vaults for far too long.

​There was an original acetate cut but it was the above Motown compilation CD where I first came across it.

Shorty Long also recorded an unreleased version, this time changed to Lonely Girl.

The Funk Brothers - Lonely Girl / Boy - Instrumental

Here we have the boys laying down the backing track, it's not their strongest work, but interesting none the less.

Neither version saw the light of day, but there is a rather superb if really rare uptempo cover version by Eric Mercury on "Sac" records.

The Velvelettes - These Things Will Keep Me Loving You

Carolyn Gill, Mildred Gill, Bertha Barbee, and Betty Kelly were the original members of this fabulous girl group.

The girls signed for Motown in 1962 but didn't record until the following year, with Needle In A Haystack reaching number 45 in the US charts.

This 1966 release failed to make it into the US top 100, but when it was reissued in the UK in 1971, it reached number 34, thanks to the plays it received on the soul scene.

Still very popular at a Motown night, the oldies scene still regards this as a classic.

Not your typical Motown roof shaker, but still a brilliant dance tune.​

Kim Weston - That's Groovy / Land Of Tomorrow

When Kim left Motown in 1967, she signed for M.G.M. and with the help of her then husband Mickey Stevenson, she recorded these two great sides.

"That's Groovy" is a lovely Crossover / Chillout track which hasn't recieved the attention it deserves, I really rate this track.

"Land Of Tomorrow" is a moody number where Kim can showcase her vocal talent.